Electric lighting device



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e1). BANOR'OFT; Electric Lighting Device. No. 235,978. Patented Dec.28,1880..

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Electric Lighting Device.

Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

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G. D. BANGROFT.

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Electric Lighting Device. 040,235,978;

Patented Dec. 28,1880.

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Electric Lighting Device. No. 235,978. Patented Dec. 2 8,1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. BANOROFT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,978, dated December28. 188 Application filed'J'une 7, 1850. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. BANCROF'I, of Boston, in the county ofSufl'ollr and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulElectric Gas Controlling and Lighting Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

My present invention relates to the application of an electric currentto the operation of a gas-cock. and to lighting the gas-jet by means ofan electrically-heated wire; and it consists in the application of anautomatic mechanism for transmitting the electric current from oneseries of gas jets or lamps to another series; also, in minor details,which may be best understood by reference to the specification anddrawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism that Iapply to such of the lamps as it is deemed necessary to havetransmitters. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 areside elevations of the same. Fig. 5 is a horizontal view of detailsrelating to the transmitting device. Fig. 6 is an elevation of agas-burner and the device for controlling the flow of gas and lightingthe same, this being the device that Iuse on. the greater number oflamps-namely, those upon which no transmitter is necessary.

My invention consists of the combination of a system of apparatus and ofthe peculiarities of the device. Iwill first describe the devices andthen the system.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the simplest form of the device that. is requiredat each lamp, in

' which A represents the gas-tip; A, a frame of metal, to which I attachthe other parts of the device. D is an electro-magnet, made of'anyconvenient form and size, D being an armature for the same, the armatureD having a small stud, d, on its upper surface, which serves as a checkor look for the segment-arm O. This segment-arm G is attached to thegas-cock and also to the rod E The turning of the arm 0 opens or closesthe gas-orifice, the stud d on the armature locking the same in eitherposition, the armature being thrown up by a spring, so that when thereis no electric current to draw it down its tendency is to stay up.

E E E E is a compound metallic rod, so made as to have a tendency tostraighten when heated, the end E being fixed to the arm E. The end Ehas a tendency, when heated, to move in the direction indicated by thearrow w, the parts being so arranged that when the metallic bar E E E Eis cold and the segment-arm O is locked in the position indicated inFig. 6 the gas is out ch; but the tendency of the part E is to pressfirmly in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow as, sothat when the armature D is brought down by the electric current and thesegment-arm 0 released the gas-cock will be opened by the pressure ofthe rod E, which is connected to the segmentarm C. When the gas-cock isopen the arm 0 is thrown over, so that the notch d is held by the stud don the armature D. The gas in burning heats the bar E E E and causes itto strain in the direction of the arrow :rthat is, it has a tendency toclose the gas-cock, which it will whenever the armature D is drawn down.This part of my invention is fully shown and described in thespecification and drawings of Letters Patent issued to me June 18, 1878,and numbered 205,032.

The device for lighting consists of the posts B B, the wires F F, andthe platinum wire F When it is desired to light the gas acun rent ofelectricity is sent through F which, being small and of greatresistance, becomes so hot as to ignite the gas. The same current thatpasses through the magnets D and releases the segment-arm 0 may be usedfor heating the wire F The device for transmitting the electric currentfrom one series of lamps to another is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5. Asall of the parts are shown in Figs. 1 and 5 it will be understood thatthese figures are referred to.

H is a lever pivoted at h to the post B. The upper end of this lever His attached, by the wires F F and clasp F to the fixed post B, so thatwhen a current of electricity passes through the wires F and F theyexpand and cause the lever H to move, the lower end of the lever movinginward. This action causes the lower end of the lever H to act on thepin h on the lever H, and causes the lever H to dip its end H into themercury'in the cup H This action of the lever H closes a circuit thatpasses around the magnet K and causes it to draw the armature-lever K inthe direction of the arrow N. The lower end of the lever K engages witharms K, attached to the tilting lever K and as it moves in the directionof the arrowN, it throws the bridge K of the tilting lever K down intothe mercury in the cups MM, and to draw the bridge K of the tiltinglever out of the mercury in the cups L L. This action cuts out thecurrent that has heretofore been passing through the cup L, the bridge Kcup L, and through the system of lamps to which this transmitterbelongs, and by uniting the mercury in the cups M M throws the currentover to the next system of lamps. The armature-lever K has a pin, is,which projects over lever H, and acts in such a way on a boss, hthereon, whenever the armature of lever K is attracted by magnet K as tohold end H of lever H down in the mercury of cup H In those lamps in thesystem which are not provided with transmitters the electric currentpasses around the magnets D and through the posts B B and wires F F F.

In the lamps that have the "transmitting device, as shown'in Figs. 1 and5, the direct current goes through the cups L L and bridge K through themagnets D, '(see Fig. 3,) and the lighting-wire F with the dividedcurrent which passes through the magnet K, when the lever H H is throwninto the mercurycup H but both of the currents are cut off when thebridge K is raised out of the mercury in'the cups L L, in which case thecurrent is connected by the bridge K so as to pass on to the next systemof lamps.

My system complete consists of the'dynamoelectric generator, an electriccircuit, and a series of lamps, like those shown in Fig. 6, terminatingin a lamp having a transmitter, as shown in Fig. 1, then another seriesof lamps, like the one shown in Fig. 6.

The device shown in Fig. 6 is for all of the lamps in each system,except the end lamp,

which has attached to it the transmitting device shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The number of lamps in system may vary from five to fifty, according tocircumstances.

With a strong dynamic generator I think it is practical to unite as manyas fifty lamps in a single circuit, as my device for opening thegas-cocks and lighting admits of an unbroken current.

I do not claim herein, broadly, means for automatically cutting thelighting-wire out of circuit, as means to that end are'included in anapplication for United States Letters Patent filed by me April 23, 1880.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is- 1. In a system of gas-lamps lighted by elec tricity, thecombination of a series of devices consisting of the thermo-bar E E Eand the stop-cock O and a lighting device, F F F with a terminaltransmitting device for shiftin g the current to the next lamp,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric lighting device, the combination of the wires F F andclasp F with the levers H H" and mercury-cup H operating togethersubstantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric lighting device, the combination of the magnet K andthe armaturelever K with the lever H H,mercury-cupH the tiltiuglever Kits bridges K K, and the mercury-cups L L M M, all operating togethersubstantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE D. BANGROFT. Witnesses:

HELEN M. FEEGAN, S. A. Girls.

